If the printer is experiencing problems printing, first check that the device is connected to the power cable and the power is on. If you are experiencing difficulties turning the printer on refer the section above.

If the printer still is not printing, make sure the paper tray is loaded properly with proper sized photo paper. If the paper tray is empty, you will need to load more photo paper into the paper tray and re-install the paper tray into the printer.

If the error indicator light is lit, then the printer is jammed. To fix a paper jam you must remove the paper tray, disconnect the AC power adapter, wait 5 seconds, then plug the printer back in. If the jammed paper does not automatically eject, carefully remove the paper manually. To help prevent further jamming, fan the paper in the paper tray to prevent the paper sticking together.

If the printer is experiencing problems connecting to a computer, make sure your operating system of your computer is compatible with the printer. The Dell Photo Printer 540 supports Windows XP and 2000.

If the printer is overheating (you can tell by feeling or the fan will be making a lot of noise), check that the fan is performing at its required capacity. If this is the case, you will need to install a new cooling fan in the printer.

If the LCD screen is malfunctioning, first check that the power cord is plugged in and that the printer is turning on (to verify this, the power button should light up). If the printer is on but the LCD screen is still not turning on, you will need to install a new LCD panel. If the LCD screen is cracked or physically damaged beyond repair, you will need to install a new LCD panel as well.

If the printer is not detecting a memory card, check that the memory card is installed properly (faced up with the magnetic strip on the bottom side, fully inserted). You may try to take the memory card out and re-insert it.